Bookrack page index device



March 2, 1954 w. 1. NICHOLSON BOOKRACK PAGE I NDEX DEVICE '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1952 INVENTOR. Eff/ham [MC/Io/fiop BY v A rrok/vsys March 2, 1954 w NICHOLSON 2,670,553

BOOKRACK PAGE INDEX DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7a 56 52 Q Q 75 IVA March 2, 1954 w. 1. NICHOLSON BOOKRACK PAGE INDEX DEVICE 3 SheetsSheet 5 Filed Feb. 18, 1952 Eli/6.

I ir f- INVENTOR. iJf/fl/am [MC/20600 m M L Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED OFFICE Figure 6- is enlarged sectibfiel view taken substantially al'ofig the line 6 Mif- Figure '5 Figure T an en le l ged s' etitionel' View takers suhstzmtia'lly along the line 7 4 Of Figures ise; sectional view taken 'sfibstexita'el 1y aldng theme 8""8 of Fig-'111e5;

Figure 9 is" e seeti'onel view taken smiris'tafitial'ly alng the li-ne 9- 9 of Figure 1;

Figure 1015 a detailed perspective -view of etfi of the retaining straps shown in Figure 5 Figure I1 is a View Similar to Figure 2 of a modified fer-m of the invention;

Figure 12 is asectional iew taken 'substa ntieb l-y along the tines l-2-=12 of Figure 11;

Figure 1-3 is a detailed seetiorial view of the bookasseinbly 'shownin Figure 1'12;

Figure 1-4 is a detailed front View with parts in section of the selectdr frame and its esso= cia-ted perte shown in- Figure 111;

figure-1L5 is a plan :view of Figure 14 Figure l-fiiisen' enlarged deteil'ed se'eti'ontxl -view taken-substantially aleng the line re=1e-er meiure 15';

Figure 1 7-isa detailed perspective view of parts of the selector frame showing the pointer 3201ineeted thereto; and

Figure-18 is 'a' detailefront view of a page-shew me an opening-and recessforreeeiving-the arm of a retainingstrap.

"seb- Rfeti ihgt'd the dratvfirigs, 2'0"ind1eetes '9; took atiihg'itbilbit emisz l pr'ovmeewith" up ti at'dl y eitenmii'g 22 between which "may be positioned one or more volumes, banks 61 feldi s 23. F6ftHefiurp0se of illu'stiatiom-ttifee sunnvdlufiies fiat/e been shown The back 24 of 'volu ni' i's prfefab1y in the term qf a r'iiet'eil ti e-me having spaced side flanges 25* (Fig; 3) w. ch at th'eii wwer ems are provided with mag-nee openings- EE register with new-- prementefy op'efimgs 2 'fl 'iil fiaz'iges 22 onthe efi'd"me'mbefs 2! (Fig; 1*). A retaining rod 29 exterres ttirdfigh the epem-ztgs 2e and =21 s'e te m me .e a pivotal suppbit for :eecti of the vmu'riiesin' order that it ay 6e swung we iv x113 'tfid-ddvinwar *teaesume mo -see a eti 1 as shewrt by them-fidwvblume'it Mme-41'.

To the bp'fadsed fiefiges' 2%; fit the" seek-H me hinged the sides 3a in. the" volume; ca ta'to'g, or 15001: eset 3'4. Each volume 23 is arranged ta rti ve m hum-bet of separate 6r dtab'hahle afiiiifit sheets, p'age's, bards 0 1 "Se'c'tiQY-IS' 32 "00151"- taming pertinent data such as massifieme'matter and the l ke. In O'fder that this date may befeadfly' available 6r accessible at a, minimum expendi-tute of time andefi'ort, the'fient 0'1 ex posed face of each beck-21';teipfiefidedwith a redtenguler frame 33" having gram-es -33" in apposed sides soth-ateeerd 34* may be remova'my inteitefi therein. The da rdfl t has 'vertiea l r-bw's (if 'ohare'ctefiseueh asthe-riumeram ewmcn our ispohd in tiumbe'r to the number of zt'ceouht sheets 3 2 carried by "each volume of book Q3: It Wilt tie mainfest ttiettfie' number of sheets 32 may; be varied so that the indicia' en thecards 38 will tie cofi'espbndmgly varied in accordance therewith.

The ihne'r Face 36 '(Fi g.-:2) of "each baek Zflh'as secured; thereto a; diagoxietl' 'or inclined channel: stiaped gifide '01" rib member 3'! with which "is associatede, vextically movable; light, selector 3% havmg an elongated transverse slot 3% (Fig; 4) and-which bent at oh'e en'd outwardly as at" 41! and. then'in'wardiy evs' at M to'f-orm the pointerer hooked end pbrtion 4 2. one eftheside flan es 25 has an elon'geted Vertical 'opefiifi-g: 33- th'reug'h which lfiosfyextnd's' the Selector 3366 that the aimfl afi'd pUin-ter dz- -mziy b'e pbsitidned ffoiit of the-card hlder '33- (Figa 3) and be muted to 3 as to be frictionally engaged by the cables or flexible members 45 and 55 and which provide means for releasably maintaining the selector 38 in any desired adjusted vertical position. A pair of movable guide arms or members 49 and 55 (Fig. 4) are positioned on opposite sides of the inclined channel member 37. The arms 49 and 5B are connected together by a transverse web or lug 5| that constitutes a projection that extends outwardly as at 52 from one side of the selector 38 for a purpose subsequently to be described. It

will be seen that upon vertical movement of the selector 38 relative to the back frame 24, that the guide members 49 and 50 will also be moved laterally or transversely in the slot 39 due to their guiding engagement with the inclined channel A yieldably engage the shoulders 58 and 59 (Fig. 9). Normally the tension of the springs 69 against the shoulders 58 and 59 will force the strap 82 axially to the left as shown in Fig. 5 so as to cause the arms 65 and 58 to overlap and retain each preceding page in contact with its succeeding page. Each sheet, page or catalo 32 may be made of any suitable solid material having the transverse recess 56 and cavity 5! centrally formed therein or may be formed as shown in Fig. 7 of separate layers '39 provided with opposed recesses which when the layers 70 are secured together along the median line II will form the recess 55 and the cavity or chamber 51. The outer exposed sides of the sheet may be provided With transparent pockets 12 leaving open the top ends for inserting member 37. The guide members 49 and 59 may be provided with tapered portions 53 that extendin opposite directions and terminate in rectangular end portions 54 (Fig. 4). Rollers 55 are rotatably mounted on the guide members 49 and 50 so as to reduce their frictional engagement with the sides of the selector 38.

Each of the account sheets, catalogs, cards, leaves, or pages 32 may be made of any suitable durable, rigid material such as cardboard, plastic or the like, and is of such a thickness as to be provided with a transverse recess or opening 55 which extends inwardly and centrally from the inner side of the sheet to a point short of the outer or opposite side thereof (Fig. 5). The recess 56 intermediate its ends communicates with an enlarged chamber or cavity v5'! that forms shoulder portions 58 and 59 in the sheet and on opposite sides of the recess 55. Each sheet is also provided with spaced elongated openings 69 and GI adjacent the opposite end thereof and which communicates with the recess 56. The recess 56 and openings 59 and 61 in each of the sheets 32 is vertically offset or stepped relative to its preceding and succeeding sheet (Fig. 5). Arranged to be axially slidable in each of the transverse recesses 55 is a strap or member 62 which is preferably formed at one end with a hook portion having a laterally and outwardly extending arm 63 (Fig. that terminates in an inwardly extending retaining arm 64. The opposite end '65 is tapered or curved and arranged normally to project beyond the adjacent vertical edge 56 of the sheet 32 (Fig. 5) so as to be positioned in the path of vertical movement of the projection or lug 52 (Fig. 9) on the guide members 49 and 50 so that the latter may be moved vertically past the lug 52 or engage the same. The arm 64 is of slightly narrower width than the opening 60 and extends therethrough so that when the strap 62 is moved axially to the left as shown in Fig. 5, it will overlap and engage the adjacent or preceding sheet to prevent separation of the sheets. Conversely, when the strap 62 is moved so that the arms 64 again align with the opening 65, it will permit the independent movement of the preceding sheet or section. The strap 62 is also provided with an outwardly extending lug 61 parallel to the arm' 53, and which terminates in a flange or arm 68 that extends toward the tapered end 65. The arm 68 is of sufiicient width as to permit the lug '51 to extend through the openings 6| so that when the selector 62 is moved to the left as shown in Fig. 5, the arm 68 will overlap the preceding page in substantially the same manner as the arm 64 previously described.

The strap 62 has extending from opposite sides thereof the curved spring members 89 which are arranged to extend into the cavity. 51 so as to typed or printed cards therein. Each sheet 32 adjacent the back frame 24 is provided with openings l3 adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof through which extend the cone-shaped hollow pins I4 having the enlarged heads '15. The pins 14 are arranged to be moved into interfitting engagement and serve to maintain the sheets firmly in position and permit their convenient separation when it is desired to open the book in order to obtain quickly any classified data shown or carried by a particular sheet.

In operation, assuming that the three books as shown in Fig. 1 are arranged to contain selected or classified data of importance to an executive in his particular position, and which must be readily available, such as for conference or consultation at short notice, if each book contains twenty sheets, each provided with separate pertinent data, the card 34 will be correspondingly provided with twenty rows corresponding to the number of sheets. Normally the springs 59 of each strap 62 urges the same to the left (Fig. 5) so that the arms 64 and 68 overlap and retain adjacent sheets in contact with each other. If the closed middle book is the one in which the information is contained that the executive dedesires, he first moves the pointer 42 vertically so that it registers with the row on the card 34 that contains the data or information needed. This movement of the pointer 62 also moves the selector 38 when the book is still in its closed position, in engagement with the end 65 of the strap 52 carried by the particular sheet containing the data indicated by the row where the pointer 42 is stopped. The engagement of the lug 52 of the selector 38 with the tapered end 65 forces the strap 62 to the right (Fig. 5) against the tension of the spring 69 so as to cause this particular strap to move its associated arms 64 and $8 in registration with complementary openings 60 and 6! in order that the preceding sheet which previously has been maintained in contact with it, may be released so that the book may be swung open at the desired sheet as indicated in Figure 1. The connection of the cone-shaped members 74 with each sheet maintains the sheets in proper alignment when they are fastened together by the arms 64 and 68 and allow their independent movement or removal when they are released from engagement by the strap 62. Upon the selector 38 being moved away from end 65 of a strap 62, the springs 69 will again return the arms 54 and 68 so as to overlap the adjacent preceding sheet. In Fig. 8, four separate sheets 32 are shown with three of the straps 62 moved to the left so as to retain each sheet to the preceding and succeeding sheets. The openings 60 and 6! each has the wall thereof provided with an enlarged recess 60' for receiving the arms 64 said sheets, a vertically movable selector extending transversely of the book and having a pointer extending outwardly to selectively align with one of the vertical rows of characters each sheet 112371 ing a transversely disposed axially slidable member connected thereto, said slidable member being provided with retaining means arranged to engage the preceding sheet when said member is moved axially in one direction and to be freed therefrom when moved in an opposite direction, said slidable member having one end projecting into the path of movement of said selector so as to be axially: displaceable thereby, means for normally maintaining the retaining means in engagement with a preceding sheet, and means for releasing engagement of said retaining means with said preceding sheet so that when the hook is opened it will automatically open at the released sheet.

3. In combination with the back and sides of a book, separate, removable sheets arranged to be confined between the sides when the book is closed, means for maintaining the sheets in alignment, said back having on its outer surface vertically spaced rows of index characters corresponding in number to the number of sheets, a vertically movable selector extending transversely of the book in front of the back and having a pointer extending outwardly so as to selectively align with one of the vertical rows of characters, each sheet having a transverse recess extending inwardly and medially from one side thereof, each sheet being provided with a shoulder adjacent said recess, each sheet having a pair of spaced horizontal openings communicating with said recess, a strap axially slidable in said recess and having a hooked end portion extending through one of said openings and arranged to overlap the preceding sheet, said strap having a lug extending outwardly therefrom and shaped to project through the other of said openings and overlap a preceding sheet, said strap having its opposite end projecting outwardly from the sheet so as to be positioned in the path of vertical movement of said selector, spring means on said strap engaging said shoulder for-normally urging the strap towards said back, said selector having guide means movable therewith and transversely slidable thereon, said back having an inclined guide rib engaged by said guide means, said guide means having a projection arranged to engage one end of the strap, and means upon vertical movement of the selector to move the pointer in alignment with a predetermined vertical row on the back of the cover and simultaneously to move said projection in engagement with the strap so as to force the latter outwardly in order to move the hooked end and the lug in alignment with their adjacent openings so that upon opening the book, the sheets are automatically separated at the point corresponding to the row with which the pointer is now in alignment.

4. In combination with a book and index device as called for in claim 3, in which the straps and the pair of openings associated with each sheet are vertically offset relative to the straps and openings in the adjacent sheets.

5. In combination with the back and sides of a book, separate, removable sheets arranged to be confined between the sides when the book is closed, means for maintaining the sheets in alignment, said back having on its outer surface vertically spaced rows of index characters corresponding in number to the number of sheets, a vertically movable selector extending transversely of the book in front of the back and having a pointer extending outwardly so as to selectively align with one of the vertical rows of characters, each sheet having a transverse recess extending inwardly and medially from one side thereof, each sheet being provided with a shoulder adjacent said recess, each sheet having a pair of spaced horizontal openings communicating with said recess, a strap axially slidable in said recess and having one end provided with a hooked portion extending through one of said openings and arranged to overlap the preceding sheet, said strap having 8, lug extending outwardly therefrom and shaped to project through the other of said openings and overlap a preceding sheet, said strap having its opposite end projecting outwardly so as to be engaged by said selector, yieldable means connected to said strap and engaging said shoulder for normally urging the strap towards said back, said selector including spaced horizontal arms, a reciprocating plate between said arms, and means movably connecting the plate to said arms so that the plate is moved transversely with a rocking motion to engage and be moved out of engagement with the end of the reciprocating strap when the selector is aligned therewith.

6. In combination with a book and an index device as called for in claim 5 in which means are provided for pivotally connecting the pointer to said selector and to said plate so as to cause the plate to be rocked towards and away from the adjacent end of the strap.

7. A device of the class described having a frame provided with a vertical slot, a vertically movable selector mounted in the frame and having an indicator arm extending outwardly through said slot, said frame having an. inclined guide rib therein, spaced guide means movable with the selector and transversely slidable relative thereto, said guide means engaging said inclined rib so as also to be moved laterally when the selector is moved vertically, and a displaceable operating member in the path of movement of said selector and arranged to be actuated thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 681,409 Dickerson Aug. 27, 1901 2,593,475 Neilson Apr. 22, 1 52 

